Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

June 13, 2006

Today’s Queue Stories

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Compassion, The Kid
© 2006
Julie Jordan Scott


This weekend I experienced proof.

Proof that we can connect with any being with
a beating heart - be it covered with skin or fur
or leaves or feathers or scar tissue. you name
it. if we share our Presence, we connect deeply.

I had just experienced a momentary humiliation
when I attempted to pick up a pot-bellied pig
and quickly chose to put it down - too much
squealing - when one of the employees of
Oakglen said, "Put the pig down, young lady."

While I appreciated the young lady part, I felt
something children must feel a lot - when they
make a choice, and then quickly make a second
choice to correct the first choice, but then
some hovering adult feels the need to step
in and order the second choice just to screw
that knife in the "your first choice was
really a helluva stupid choice,
kid." thought.

My feet scrunched over the matted ground
to look at some of the other animals.  I
stared at my naval-themed Liz Claiborne
deck shoes I snagged for a dollar at
the Secret Treasures Thrift store.

"You can pick up one of those baby goats
though, young lady, if you would like.." said
the Oakglen employee, who must have caught
some of my humiliation in his heart.  I nodded,
feeling the sadness of an eternity of wrong
choices, too afraid and still unwilling to
make eye contact with the permission-giving-man.

I looked at the two baby goats.  There was a
silky black one who caught my eye immediately
but for some reason I was compelled to reach for
the more ordinary looking grey kid.  I picked her
up and held her close and immediately lost my
heart in the softness of her fur and the
strength of her little-four-legged-body. She
rested her little-not-yet-horned-head
on my chest.

She wanted to listen to my heart beat, to
feel my Presence.

Emma wanted, desperately, to hold the baby
goat but was afraid.

I helped her to hold the sweet baby, even
coaxing the goat to rest her head on Emma's
heart. I stood right there, as close as
I could without interfering, to
mid-wife-the-moment.

Each time, Emma handed her back to me.

I sat on a stump so that I could rock
the little kid.

"What should we name her, Mommy?" Emma asked.

"Hmmm. I don't know, Emma. What would you
like to name her?"

Emma was quiet for a few moments as she watched
us and petted our new little friend.

"Compassion." She said.

"Oh, that is a very good name," I said. "Compassion."

I don't know how long we sat there, how long I simply
held Compassion in my arms, rocking her gently.  Katherine
wasn't feeling well and it was cold and damp, so I
knew I needed to get my eldest child someplace
warm where she could rest.

We left. Emma and I vowed to come back later
in the day.

We brought Katherine to her Grandmother's house and
tucked her into bed, wearing her new soft jammies.
Sam, Emma and I went to play at the McDonald's
playground in Yucaipa and then went back
to find Compassion.

When we returned, Compassion was bleating sadly,
looking towards the place her Mama was munching
on some hay in a different penned area.  Apparently
it was time for her and her brother to begin being
more independent but she wasn't happy about it.
She stopped bleating and sat on the ground, with
her brother snuggled close in front of her.

Sam, Emma and I decided we would sit close, too,
and offer our loving support.

The ground was not the cleanest place to sit but
we didn't care.  It wasn't exactly warm, either,
but we didn't care. We sat beside our new friends
and offered love and kindness. We petted them
and whispered sweetness into their ears.

Once again, I lost track of how much time we
spent there - I do know it was not before both
Emma and Sam shared empathy with these sibling
kids and not before I felt gratitude from the
top of my head to the bottom of my feet.

We decided to go visit with some of the other
animals in the park before turning around again,
hoping for one last visit with Compassion.  This
time the little animals had left the petting area
and we saw Compassion was reunited with her
mother, who we hand fed some corn.

"Good job, Mama," I told her as I made sure she
received plenty, even as a more forceful member
of her tribe tried to take some of her share.
Emma understood to act as a feeder decoy so
that they could both receive their due.

"Do you think Compassion will remember us?"
Emma asked as we drove away.

I answered "Once you have experienced love, it
is forever imprinted on your heart. So yes, even
if Compassion doesn't remember us intellectually,
she will always remember the love we shared
deep within her heart."

Just like we will always remember her.

Link to OakGlen, Compassion's Home

http://www.oakglen.net/index.html <http://www.oakglen.net/index.html

Julie Jordan Scott

juliejordanscott@hotmail.com

Julie Jordan Scott is a Writer, Speaker, Success Coach, Actor,
Director, Workshop Facilitator and Mother Extraordinaire who created
the DreamActivation program to ignite your dreams.
Use the Power of DreamWitness, Focus and Intentional
Action to live your most authentic dreams now....
http://www.5passions.com/dreamactivationnew.html
<http://www.5passions.com/dreamactivationnew.html

Attn: Writers and Business Owners -

Discover how to Build Your Business
Using Your Art:

Article Writing for Magnetic Attraction:

http://www.5passions.com/writearticle.html
<http://www.5passions.com/writearticle.html

Check out Julie's Blogs:

http://www.Julieunplugged.com <http://www.Julieunplugged.com

~**~**~

Poetry Section

~ Home ~

Joyce C. Lock & Joan Clifton Costner

I hear the strains of a far away land;
Light from a city, not made by man.
Beauty is waiting.  What shall I see ~
Angel wings flutter by, on the breeze ...

Walls covered with the most precious of stones;
Gates of pure pearl, awaiting God's own.
Each step closer draws a brightened glimpse.
Hearts o'erflow; anticipating Him.

Light in the hallways and light in the street;
Only a moment, then we will meet.
Banners are waving, hearts everywhere
Looking for Jesus ~ soon to be there!

The blind and crippled, our broken and lame,
Being brought in Jesus' holy name;
Children run to the gathering scene.
Hearts, once prideful, are down on their knees.

There's the Great white throne, with doors opened wide;

Book of Life waiting ~ Lamb comes inside!

Finally opened, our names found there;

Crown of His righteousness, mine to wear!

Oh, Heaven of Heavens, home in my heart;

'Tis Heaven where God's love never parts.

Dwelling in His presence, my delight;

No more darkness, His glory so bright.

Home, blessed Home of the blest and the free ~
No more longing ~ forever to be
Next to Jesus; great Lover of man!
Hillsides of Heaven, Bless Gloryland!

Whole in spirit, completed of need;
All ever longed for is found in Thee.
Everything glist'ning of crystal or gold,
God's masterpiece; blessed Home of the soul!

© 2005 by Joan Clifton Costner and Joyce C. Lock
http://underhiswings0.tripod.com
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/

~**~**~

 I Am

Joyce C. Lock 

I Am above all Kings.

I Am above all Lords.

I Am above all rulers of the universe.

I Am all there is.

I Am all there ever was.

I Am all you really need,

As I Am for you.

I Am your Creator.

I Am your Counselor.

I Am your Savior and Friend.

I Am supreme, unconditional, Love.

I Am God Almighty

And I Am here to say,

"I Am completely in love with you."

© by Joyce C. Lock

~**~**~

~ I Believe ~

Joyce C. Lock

I believe in God, He is not dead.
I believe He protects me from all dread.
I believe I can go to Him, in prayer.
I believe He will meet me there.

I believe God is my best friend.
I believe on Him I can depend.
I believe He knows my truest needs.
I believe God for every good deed.

I believe God lives within.
I believe God can use others to speak for Him.
I believe each has something new to share.
I believe it's our loss when we do not care.

I believe in faith, hope, love, and peace.
I believe in home, family, and community.
I believe there is a purpose for every one.
I believe we're to love each as if His Son.

I believe God honors all our labors of love.
I believe we can bring Him smiles, up above.
I believe in blessing God first.
I believe God will heal our earth.

I believe the lame will walk anew.
I believe in the recovery of sight.
I believe that which is torn will be made whole.
I believe God will keep His word to all.

I believe we'll receive praises from God.
I believe Jesus is coming to claim His bride.
I believe God will, again, dwell with man.
I believe we'll be free to serve God, again.


© 2005 by Joyce C. Lock

~**~**~

Readers Feedback

Carol – A Single Fig - Amazing how other people live isn't it? That is why we can never take for granted, the freedom we hold so close, and support those who serve and die for our right to live free.

Best of luck to Mina, who has just begun to live! Aro.

Carol - This is a beautiful story about Mina. Jene

Sweet angelsister, Carol, Mina's story touched my heart. It is so true . . . going to a brand~new country with  different cultures, etc.  must be quite frightening.
Mina is a brave lady:-)

When I read the part about the stictness of law of Ramadan and how she was arrested for eating just a tiny fig . . . it made me appreciate the freedoms we enjoy in the U S of A!!!

I enjoyed reading this story, Carol. Love and blessings, Maryxo

Ron Gold - I loved this story, good writing! Shelly

Prayer Requests and Updates

Sending warm and loving thoughts for Nikki! Hugs Vona

Prayers being said daily for Nikki! – Dianna Petry

Senior Writers

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